Home Sewn Exhibition

Yesterday I went to see Home Sewn, an exhibition of home made kiwi clothes. It’s being held in Britomart, Auckland and running until Wednesday. And best of all – it’s entry by donation.

It was great to see a genre usually relegated to domesticity elevated to exhibition-worthy. There were some stunning dresses there, including this gorgeous 1950s ball gown made by Marion (Maisy) May Love Baker. I really liked how the curator put an emphasis on the actual seamstresses.

Some of the dresses were really timeless and avant garde (if a dress can be both simultaneously), like this 1956 dress made and worn by Naomi McDonald to the Plunket Ball, part of the winter social calendar in Eastbourne, Wellington.

Other dresses were more of their time like this beautiful 1980s silk and lace dress (back view):

If you’re in Auckland and into sewing you should pop along!

Bunting Tutorial

All my friends are leaving. Well not quite. [Another friend has just confirmed she is also leaving.] But two of them are. One is doing a university exchange to the UK (London) and the other is doing Camp America (New York state). Pretty much I’m quite jealous of their travels and will miss them both.

But enough of me and on to sewing – what this blog is REALLY about. I decided that as a going away present I would make them each some bunting. This way when they get to their, respective, new accomodation they will have something to put on the wall and make it a bit more homely. I must give due credit to {re}purposed mind for this gift idea.

I decided to go with a green gingham (I heart gingham) and fabric with Pohutukawa blossoms and Tui (I also heart kiwiana).

You will need: scissors, a ruler, some bias seam binding, some card board or paper, thread, some fabric, pins and a pen.

1. Using your ruler measure a triangle. This will be your template to mark your fabric with. Remember to include a 1.5 cm seam allowance. I made mine 13 x 18 cm.

2. Trace around your template to mark your triangles. Cut them out. Remember you’ll need twice as many triangles as flags.

3. Pin your pieces together.

4. Sew them together.

5. Trim off the end of the triangle and the excess on the sides at the end.

6. Press the seams open. This will help the flags to lie flat.

7. Turn the flag inside out and give it another press.

8. Count your flags and measure the length of your seam binding. Decide on a distance that you wish to spread the flags out by. I decided on 4 cm between each flag.
Pin the binding over the raw edges at the top of the flag. Sew together.

9. Hang and enjoy.

I’ll post some photos of it finished when we have some good weather here!

 

Tres Excitement!

During the week I found this newspaper clipping folded up inside my McCall’s 6564 pattern envelope. MEGA EXCITEMENT. I think the person who owned this pattern before me was hoping to make the coat (view c) out of this pattern to look like the newspaper clipping. It is pretty close, just needs lengthening and a sash.

                      

THE GOLD of a sunset is captured in this exquisite evening ensemble from the new spring collection from Pierre Balmain of Paris. The designer topped a floor-length evening gown with an equally long coat done in the same brilliant goldne yellow shantung. The bodice of the gown is encrusted with lavish embroidery, shimmering in gold and sky blue.